To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage Puts all heaven in a rage.
A dove-house fill'd with doves and pigeons Shudders hell thro' all its regions. A dog starv'd at his master's gate Predicts the ruin of the state.
A horse misused upon the road Calls to heaven for human blood. Each outcry of the hunted hare A fibre from the brain does tear.
William Blake's works differed in parts of his life. His later works seemed to be very complex and full of meaning. His earlier works were often more rebellious and went more on the edge. In fact, his poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell wasn't exactly intended for the Church. He was a Romantic, very dramatic with his poems. I would consider this poem one of his best pieces, as it is very deep and meaningful.
The rhyme scheme in the poem is A, B, A, B in the first stanza, but as you notice the rhyme scheme changes throughout the poem. The poem does not use many common literary terms such as alliteration, hyperbole, or personification. However, I found it was harder to find what this poem did include. I felt it had a form of imagery that was implied, but not strictly stated. Like, for example, finding heaven, something large, unknown, full of possibility in a small object, a grain of sand. That need you to use some form of imagery. Although I think it may be an inner feeling or sense, such as gratefulness or appreciative, rather than a physical sense.
The first thing I noticed was about the poem was the title. To see a World in a Grain of Sand is different. When you think about a grain of sand, you wouldn't typically think about something as grand as the world. This also happens to be the opening line for the poem, which I think was the best way to open the poem. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
I would interpret the first two stanzas as seeing a wide truth, idea, thought, or wonder in the smallest of things. Like seeing a beautiful diamond in a dark lump of coal. Simply Seeing the big ideas in the smallest of materials. And no, it's not a physical sight. The third and fourth stanza is close to how I interpreted the first and second, but instead it's small actions that make big impacts.
The first line is why I decided to look into and choose this poem. I just liked it. I feel the people who can see be happy and see the large things in what they have, even if it's not much, are the best people. I chose it because it is optimistic and deep and the same time.
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.
A dove-house fill'd with doves and pigeons
Shudders hell thro' all its regions.
A dog starv'd at his master's gate
Predicts the ruin of the state.
A horse misused upon the road
Calls to heaven for human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted hare
A fibre from the brain does tear.
William Blake's works differed in parts of his life. His later works seemed to be very complex and full of meaning. His earlier works were often more rebellious and went more on the edge. In fact, his poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell wasn't exactly intended for the Church. He was a Romantic, very dramatic with his poems. I would consider this poem one of his best pieces, as it is very deep and meaningful.
The rhyme scheme in the poem is A, B, A, B in the first stanza, but as you notice the rhyme scheme changes throughout the poem. The poem does not use many common literary terms such as alliteration, hyperbole, or personification. However, I found it was harder to find what this poem did include. I felt it had a form of imagery that was implied, but not strictly stated. Like, for example, finding heaven, something large, unknown, full of possibility in a small object, a grain of sand. That need you to use some form of imagery. Although I think it may be an inner feeling or sense, such as gratefulness or appreciative, rather than a physical sense.
The first thing I noticed was about the poem was the title. To see a World in a Grain of Sand is different. When you think about a grain of sand, you wouldn't typically think about something as grand as the world. This also happens to be the opening line for the poem, which I think was the best way to open the poem. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
I would interpret the first two stanzas as seeing a wide truth, idea, thought, or wonder in the smallest of things. Like seeing a beautiful diamond in a dark lump of coal. Simply Seeing the big ideas in the smallest of materials. And no, it's not a physical sight. The third and fourth stanza is close to how I interpreted the first and second, but instead it's small actions that make big impacts.
The first line is why I decided to look into and choose this poem. I just liked it. I feel the people who can see be happy and see the large things in what they have, even if it's not much, are the best people. I chose it because it is optimistic and deep and the same time.